Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Baule Ndoma Mask 1455 - For African Art Gallery
Baule Ndoma Mask 1455 - For African Art Gallery
Country: Ivory Coast
Size: 18" (45.72 cm) Tall
Material: Wood.
Condition: Good
A portrait mask, signifying a beautiful woman, these masks were danced for entertainment. This portrait mask was probably created for a women that excelled at the production of cloth as there is a loom surmounting the head. Included on this mask are the scarification's on the cheeks that once typified the Baule (baule ngole) but no longer exist. Following independence, the government proscribed them in order to eliminate signs of ethnicity and bring all Ivoirians into a single people.
The Baule name comes from their myth of origin. In the seventeenth century, in what is today known as Ghana, the Denkyera kingdom rose to prominence, but a dispute led to a dynasty leaving the country. Abla Poku, the queen, had to flee far from Kumasi with her people, the Asabu, whom she led through the forests, but their trip was brought up short by the Comoe river. she consulted her diviner, who told her that to ensure safe passage across the river, she would have to sacrifice her only child. So, eager to escort her people to the promised land, she decided the she herself would throw the child into the waters as an offering to the river gods, crying out "Baouli" ("My child is dead!"), and the followers are said to have adopted this word as the name for their people in honor of the queen's sacrifice.
BAULE NDOMA PORTRAIT MASK
Tribe: BauleCountry: Ivory Coast
Size: 18" (45.72 cm) Tall
Material: Wood.
Condition: Good
A portrait mask, signifying a beautiful woman, these masks were danced for entertainment. This portrait mask was probably created for a women that excelled at the production of cloth as there is a loom surmounting the head. Included on this mask are the scarification's on the cheeks that once typified the Baule (baule ngole) but no longer exist. Following independence, the government proscribed them in order to eliminate signs of ethnicity and bring all Ivoirians into a single people.
The Baule name comes from their myth of origin. In the seventeenth century, in what is today known as Ghana, the Denkyera kingdom rose to prominence, but a dispute led to a dynasty leaving the country. Abla Poku, the queen, had to flee far from Kumasi with her people, the Asabu, whom she led through the forests, but their trip was brought up short by the Comoe river. she consulted her diviner, who told her that to ensure safe passage across the river, she would have to sacrifice her only child. So, eager to escort her people to the promised land, she decided the she herself would throw the child into the waters as an offering to the river gods, crying out "Baouli" ("My child is dead!"), and the followers are said to have adopted this word as the name for their people in honor of the queen's sacrifice.
Baule Kplekple Mask 1454 - For African Art Gallery
Baule Kplekple Mask 1454 - For African Art Gallery
Tribe: Baule
Country: Ivory Coast
Material: Wood, Pigment
Size: 16.5" (42 cm)
Condition: Good
This mask is the first to appear in goli spirit dances. It performs a minor spirit associated with the junior rank of male dancers who perform before the more important masks appear. In keeping with its low status, it is of a simpler form of a disc shape. Known as a mischievous mask, the young dancers chase women around the village, goaded by their songs.
The Baule name comes from their myth of origin. In the seventeenth century, in what is today known as Ghana, the Denkyera kingdom rose to prominence, but a dispute led to a dynasty leaving the country. Abla Poku, the queen, had to flee far from Kumasi with her people, the Asabu, whom she led through the forests, but their trip was brought up short by the Comoe river. she consulted her diviner, who told her that to ensure safe passage across the river, she would have to sacrifice her only child. So, eager to escort her people to the promised land, she decided the she herself would throw the child into the waters as an offering to the river gods, crying out "Baouli" ("My child is dead!"), and the followers are said to have adopted this word as the name for their people in honor of the queen's sacrifice.
BAULE KPLEKPLE MASK
Tribe: Baule
Country: Ivory Coast
Material: Wood, Pigment
Size: 16.5" (42 cm)
Condition: Good
This mask is the first to appear in goli spirit dances. It performs a minor spirit associated with the junior rank of male dancers who perform before the more important masks appear. In keeping with its low status, it is of a simpler form of a disc shape. Known as a mischievous mask, the young dancers chase women around the village, goaded by their songs.
The Baule name comes from their myth of origin. In the seventeenth century, in what is today known as Ghana, the Denkyera kingdom rose to prominence, but a dispute led to a dynasty leaving the country. Abla Poku, the queen, had to flee far from Kumasi with her people, the Asabu, whom she led through the forests, but their trip was brought up short by the Comoe river. she consulted her diviner, who told her that to ensure safe passage across the river, she would have to sacrifice her only child. So, eager to escort her people to the promised land, she decided the she herself would throw the child into the waters as an offering to the river gods, crying out "Baouli" ("My child is dead!"), and the followers are said to have adopted this word as the name for their people in honor of the queen's sacrifice.
Baule Blolo Bla Figure 1458 - For African Art Gallery
Baule Blolo Bla Figure 1458 - For African Art Gallery
Tribe: Baule
Country: Ivory Coast
Material: Wood
Size: 30.5" (75 cm)
Condition: Very Good.
This Baule sculpture represents a "blolo bla" or spirit wife (blolo bian being spirit husband). In Baule culture, the otherworld, (known to them as blolo), exists in contrast to the world of physical reality, existing in parallel to the lived world and is considered to be the world of the dead. Though, it must be noted that the blolo is more than a place for the 'departed', it is also a place of origin for the spirits of the newborn.
The initial knowledge of ones otherworld mate usually comes from some sort of crisis in young adult life, normally of a sexual nature, such as sterility. The person facing the crisis would consult with a diviner (wunnzueyifue), and it would normally be found out that the problems are caused by the unhappiness or jealousy of ones neglected otherworld opposite. In these situations, the divination could reveal that it is necessary to represent this other world person by a carved statue, to which offerings of food or money could be made on a regular basisand that it is necessary to consecrate one night a week to this blolo person by sleeping alone.
Recommended reading for more information: Dreams and Reverie - Phili L. Ravenhill ISBN:1-56098-650-6.
BAULE BLOLO BLA SPIRIT WIFE
Tribe: Baule
Country: Ivory Coast
Material: Wood
Size: 30.5" (75 cm)
Condition: Very Good.
This Baule sculpture represents a "blolo bla" or spirit wife (blolo bian being spirit husband). In Baule culture, the otherworld, (known to them as blolo), exists in contrast to the world of physical reality, existing in parallel to the lived world and is considered to be the world of the dead. Though, it must be noted that the blolo is more than a place for the 'departed', it is also a place of origin for the spirits of the newborn.
The initial knowledge of ones otherworld mate usually comes from some sort of crisis in young adult life, normally of a sexual nature, such as sterility. The person facing the crisis would consult with a diviner (wunnzueyifue), and it would normally be found out that the problems are caused by the unhappiness or jealousy of ones neglected otherworld opposite. In these situations, the divination could reveal that it is necessary to represent this other world person by a carved statue, to which offerings of food or money could be made on a regular basisand that it is necessary to consecrate one night a week to this blolo person by sleeping alone.
Recommended reading for more information: Dreams and Reverie - Phili L. Ravenhill ISBN:1-56098-650-6.
Baule Maternity Figure 1459 - For African Art Gallery
Baule Maternity Figure 1459 - For African Art Gallery
Tribe: Baule
Country: Ivory Coast
Material: Wood
Size: 17.5" (45 cm)
Condition: Very Good.
Classically carved figures such as this mother and child among the Baule are known generally as waka sran, meaning a 'person of wood'. Some maternity sculptures were owned by diviners known as Komien, who could tell the future, cure illnesses as well as solving local community problems. The figure embodies a number of symbolic elements as shrine figure; she is a 'mother' and for the diviner she is a place of residence for the spirit of the bush to reside ready to be called upon by the diviner. Advised by the bush spirit (asye usu) the diviner will determine the reason that a woman is barren and direct her as to what she must do bear children. It is the energy and power of the bush spirits that create and give life that are contacted by the diviner and directed to the woman.
Recommended reading for more information: Baule Statuary Art: Meaning and Modernization - Phili L. Ravenhill ISBN:1-56098-650-6.
BAULE MATERNITY FIGURE
Tribe: Baule
Country: Ivory Coast
Material: Wood
Size: 17.5" (45 cm)
Condition: Very Good.
Classically carved figures such as this mother and child among the Baule are known generally as waka sran, meaning a 'person of wood'. Some maternity sculptures were owned by diviners known as Komien, who could tell the future, cure illnesses as well as solving local community problems. The figure embodies a number of symbolic elements as shrine figure; she is a 'mother' and for the diviner she is a place of residence for the spirit of the bush to reside ready to be called upon by the diviner. Advised by the bush spirit (asye usu) the diviner will determine the reason that a woman is barren and direct her as to what she must do bear children. It is the energy and power of the bush spirits that create and give life that are contacted by the diviner and directed to the woman.
Recommended reading for more information: Baule Statuary Art: Meaning and Modernization - Phili L. Ravenhill ISBN:1-56098-650-6.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)